Alabama Faces Record Pine Beetle Infestation
By Sheila Duncan
Reporter
As of August 22, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has found nearly 5,000 spots where Southern pine beetles (SPB) are living across the state. On average, each spot has killed about 191 pine trees. This number is expected to grow for the rest of the
Alabama’s timber industry is important for our economy, and these pine beetles are a serious threat. The AFC is working hard to find beetle spots and inform landowners about the issue.
State Forester Rick Oates mentioned, “This is the highest number of beetle spots we’ve seen in Alabama in the last 23 years. We have checked 51 counties so far and will check more soon. States like Mississippi and Georgia are also seeing many beetle spots. It looks like this is a very active year for pine beetles in the Southeast.”
Counties with more than 100 beetle spots include Bibb, Calhoun, Choctaw, Clay, Colbert, Coosa, Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Perry, Randolph, Talladega, and Winston. The worst areas are around Bankhead National Forest and the Oakmulgee District of Talladega National Forest. Many beetle spots are also found on nearby private lands, which is important for landowners to know.
The AFC will keep marking beetle spots and updating the information on the ‘SPB Location Map’ after each survey flight. They are also doing ground checks and sending letters to forest landowners. Landowners can find their property on the map and start treating the affected areas. You can view the SPB map and get beetle control information on the AFC’s website at forestry.alabama.gov. To contact an AFC representative in your area, go to the ‘Contact Us’ section on the website and choose your county from the menu.
(source AFC)
